davoran



M. F. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3, 1912.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

7 SHEETS-SHEET MGM M. F. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3, I917. 1,318,053. Patented Oct. 7,1919.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. F. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3, l9l7- v I 1,318,053. Patented Oct. 7,1919.

TSHEETS-SHEET 3.

7e 1/ l a, z firm $9 1034 E Iz 09 7 M. F. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILE D AUG.3,191l.

1,318,053. Patented 0% 7,1919.

7SHEETS-SHEET 4. 35m 0;; a 66 a3 12 06 ZUfO Z:

M. F. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.3.1911.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

7SHEETSSHEET 5.

FQ E 3 jayenfoz" M. F. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING. APPLICATION FILED AUG-3,1917. 1 ,318,053, Patented Oct. 7,1919.

ZSHEETS-SHEET B.

. DAVORAN.

METHOD OF ELECTRO'PLATING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3, 1917.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

T SHEETS-SHEET 7.

UNITED STATES PATE onrion.

MICHAEL r. DAVORAN, or cmcrmvnrr, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRANE & BREED MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or omcrmvn'rr, 0310, A coaronarro'n or OHIO.

METHOD OF ELECTROPLATING.

Specification of Letter s Patent. i

Patented Got. '7, 1919,

Application filed August 3, 1917; Serial No. 184,265.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. DAvoRAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton'and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Electroplating, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention-to provide a new and improved method of electroplating, whereby the article being electroplated is conveyed in a continuous operation through a cleansing bath, by being lowered into said bath, passed lengthwise therethrough and then raised out of said bath, and, in similar manner, passed through a rinsing bath, above the exit end of which the article is sub ected to a preferably hot cleansing spray, then through a preliminary plating bath, and a second rinsing bath, then through a dripping interval, whereupon the article is passed, as a further continuation of the operation, through a succession of plating baths of similar characters wherein successive platings are imparted to the article being plated, then through a recovering' bath, wherein the electrolytic fluid adhering to the plated article is removed from the article and its support in order that the metal in solution therein will be left in the recovering bath in order that the same may be recovered for subsequent use, the article then passing through a rinsing bath of high temperature for rinsing the plated article and imparting a high temperature thereto, preparatory to being SllbJBCtGd to drying operations. After the through this heated rinsing bath, the article is subjected in its further movement as a continuous operation to blasts of air of relatively high intensity and temperature d i- V rected toward the articles from different d1- rections and preferably counter to the direction of passage of the article, in order to the article, and preventing spotting of the article. continuation of the operation, subjected to currents of heated air which arepreferably of less intensitythan the heated air' blasts,

passage The article is then, in the further and then to a preferably quiet-heat of high temperature of approximately the boiling point of water in atmosphere, in order to evaporate from the article any moisture or latent steam which may'still be adherent to the article.

One or more of the steps may be omitted within the spirit of the invention as contained in the appended claims.

It is the further object of my invention to vary the speed of the operations, whereby the speed of movement of the article being plated through the various baths and steps of the method is varied so as to subject the article to greater or less durations of action in the varlous plating and other operations thereon, whereby to control the thickness of the coating or electro-plating applied to the articles so that if it is desired to subsequently oxidize the plated article or apply various finishes, for instance, antique finishes, to the same, that a heaviness of the plating or electro-depositing of the metal on the article may be provided adaptable for th finish desired.

I shall exemplify my invention as applied in sliver plating small articles which may be of any description, for instance, parts ratus exemplifying my invention, the apparatus being partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the conveyer means. A

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of the same,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same, partly broken away.

' Fig. 6 is a detail of the same, taken on the line 6-6. of Fig. 4.

, Fig. 7 is a detail of the same, taken on the line 77 .of .Fig. 4. k

Fig. 8 is a detail in side elevation, partly broken away, showing the elevating mechanism of the conveyor means in position for raising the article-support to an intermediate elevation, or to an elevation employed in transferring the article-support from to uppermost position and latching the same in such position.

Fig. 10 is a similar View, showing the parts in relation for tripping the latch.

Fig. 11 is a rear side elevation showing details of said parts in said last-named relation.

Fig. 12 is a rear end elevation of the conveyer means, partly broken away, and partly in section taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a plan View of one of the plating tanks.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 15 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 15-l5 of Fig. 14, showing the same in connection with an articlecarrier.

Fig. 16 is an axial section of the articlesupport, taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 17 is across-section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is an end elevation of the spraying nozzle, partly in section taken on the line 1818 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 19 is a detail in section taken on the line 1919 of Fig. 13, showing the means for attaching the anode-bars.

Fig. 20 is a detail in section, taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 13, showing the means for attaching the cathode-bars.

Fig. 21 is a lan view, partly broken away and partly in horizontal section, showing the drying mechanism.

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 23 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 23-2'3 of Fig. 22, showing diagrammatically the deflecting means in the heated current chamber.

Fig. 24' is a horizontal section, taken on the line 24-24 of Fig. 22, showing the blast means in the blast chamber.

Fig. 25 is a vertical section, taken in the plane of the line 25-25 of Fig. 24, showing said blast means.

I do not herein claim the dipping mecha nism herein shown and described, having shown, described and claimed the same in a co-pending application filed in the'United States Patent Ofiice Au st 3, 1917, as Serial No. 184,266; nor 0 I herein separately claim the drying mechanism herein shown, and described, the same being shown, described and claimed in a co-pending application filed by me in the United States Patent Ofiice August 3, 1917, as Serial No. 164,267 nor do I herein claim the plating tank or means whereby electric contact is had with the cathode-supports, or the means for causin coaction between the cathode-bars and cat ode-supports or relative movement between the cathode-supports and said cathode-bars, having shown, described and claimed the same in a co- 3, 4, 15,16 and 17).

ending application filed in the United tates Patent Ofiice August 12, 1918, as Serial No. 249,543, as a division hereof.

The articles it is desired to plate are exemplified as small pieces of hardware 21, supported on pins 22 of an article-support 23, the pins extending from cross-bars 24, projecting from a centershank 25. The shank, cross-bars and pins are of electroconductive material. That portion of the shank and the cross-bars subject to the ele'ctrolytic action of the electrolyte of the plating baths is provided with insulation, as shown by the insulating covering 26 about the shank and the insulating coverings 27 about the cross-bars. These insulating coverings may be coatings of porcelain fused on the article-support. (See Figs.

A plurality of the article-supports is provided, so that continuity of operation may be had, the article-supports being moved lengthwise of and through successive plating and rinsing baths, a recovering bath, and drying means of varying intensities in such manner that the articles may be secured to the article-support at one point in the apparatus and by continuity of movement thereof passed through the various steps required for delivering the plated articles in dry state. at .a given point of the apparatus without other manual manipulation of the articles than the placing upon and the removal from the article-carriers.

Article-carriers are exemplified at 31 as suspended carriers, being provided with fiangedwheels' 32 which movealong a pair of tracks 33 suspended by suitable hangers 34 from the ceiling of the room in which the tanks are located. The tracks are represented as angle irons supported to face each other, the flanges .on the wheels coacting with the inner edges of the angle irons. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10).

The article-carrier comprises a main frame 36, which is suspended by a bearing 37 from an axle 38 to which the flanged wheels 32 are secured.

The main frames of adjacent carriers are connected by. the links of a suitable link chain 41, which is preferably an endless link chain having a path coincident with the preferably endless pair of tracks 33. The main frame 36 may comprise a link 42 of the link chain to which the respective upper and lower-parts of the main frame exemplified as a supporting rod 52 has guided movement, as by being received in a guide-groove 53 of said guide and held therein by means of straps 54. (See Figs.

3, 4, 6 and 7). The lower part of said sups and 12.)

plemental frame is provided with a fork 56, in which an insulating spool 57 is secured, as on a pin 58 received in bearings 59 in the tines of said fork. The shank 25 of the article-support is provided with a -h0ok61, arranged to be releasably received over said spool, being received in the annular groove 62 in. said spool sothat said shank is insulated from the fork by means of the bottom of said annular groove and the side flanges of said. spool. v

A sheave 65 is fixed on a shaft 66 jour-v naled in a bearing 67 of a bracket 68 extending from the main frame. This shaft has a pinion 69 fast thereon. A flexible connection 71 is secured to the sheave, as

at 72, and to a lug 73 extending from a supplemental. frame 52, so that when the sheave is turned, the flexible connection 1s received in the groove 74-. of the sheave for changing the elevation of the article support. (See Figs. 1, 3, 4:, 8, 9 and 10.)

-The axis of rotation of the sheave is located to the side of the vertical projection of the guideway in the depending guide so that said guideway is tangential to the peripheral groove in said sheave for exerting a; steady pull on said flexible connection 71 when the sheave is turnedin' order: to prevent clamping or binding between the supplemental support and its guide.

A lever 76 is pivoted on a stud-shaft 77 located in a bearing 78 in the bracketv 68. The lever comprises a gear 79, which meshes with the pinion 69.

Means are provided for swinging the lever and thereby changing the elevation of the article-support. This is shown accomplished by causing coaction betw een the swinging end of the lever and supplemental tracks, preferably in such manner as to cause a swin ing of the lever to different extents at di erent positions along the track for controlling the elevations at whichthe article-supports travel at different portions of their path and for causingcoaction between the lever and a latch for locking the lever in actuated position.

Thus. the .swingin end of the lever is providedwith a rol er 81', journaled on a pin 82in a fork 83 .at the free end of the 1ever, the-fork"being preferably located .to"

1 tweenthe heel 109 and the stop 108.

one side-ofthemain portion of the shank of the lever.

' surface of one .of the tracks 33'. When it is desired to change the elevation of the T article-support, instanced' as a raising of The roller 81 normally rides on the under the article-support, the roller is arranged to contact a supplementaltrack 86,"exemplified as a deflecting track, which will move the lever referably to an intermediate position and intermediate elevation. The supplemental (See-FigsB, 4, 8, -.9, 10, 11

raise the article-support to an track may, if desired, be continued as a continuing track 87 for causing travel of the article-support in elevated position, and

if desired, the supplemental track may be continued by a retreating track 88 for permitting return of the lever to normal position and descent of the article-support (See Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 10.)

The arrangement provides means whereby a quick raising and a quick descent of the article-support are accomplished for causing theentire raising and descending move ments Within a short range of the progressive travel of the article-support.

In order to prevent a jar of the articlesupport when raised or lowered and especially to provide for a quick lowering without jarring movement of the article-support, I provide cushioning means, these cushioning means being exemplified as a spring 91, one end of the spring being re ceived in a hole 92 of the lever and the other end of the spring being hooked into an eye-bolt 93 having adjustable connection by means of a nut 9st with a lug 95 of the mainframe, for adjusting the spring. I have found it desirable that throughout portions of the travel of the article-support, the latter may be maintained in raised relation without necessity of continued riding of the roller 81 along a supplemental track. (See Figs. 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12.) For accomplishing this, I provide a supplemental track 101 which has a deflecting portion for deflecting the lever 7'6 to greater extent than the same is deflected by the supplemental track 86 and incidentally rais .coacts with the heel 109 of the latch. A. spring 110 is received about the bearing 105 and has one end thereof hooked about the lugand the other end thereof hooked about the latch for normally causing coaction be- It-is desirable to'maintain proper relation between the traveling carrier and the tracks during operation of the lever by preventing a sw nging of the carrier about a vertical axls during swinging movement of the lever,-

' the lever being shown at one side of the carrler and to the side of the propelling chain therefor. For accomplisl-iing this,- I provide the supplemental tracks as grooved tracks havingthe lengthwise groove 115 formed by the side fianges'116 of the U-bar which forms the supplemental tracks. A double shaft 77, being rota-table on said shaft and held against endwise movement thereon by a collar 119. (See Figs. 8, 9, l and12). The

' ing had the articles attached thereto 'may moved into coacti flanges of this wheel slope outwardly toward the ends of the Wheel as shown at 118, forming a spool-like arrangement. The inner faces of the flanges coact with the outer side edges of the flanges 116 ofthe supplemental track for locating the doublefianged wheel centrally with relation to the track.

When, in the travel of the article-carrier, the roller 81 is received in the groove 115 of the supplemental track and the flanges of the double flanged wheel are received at the outside of the side flanges of said groove, the travel of the lever is maintained in a path parallel with the tracks 33 for preventing a swinging of the article-carrier on a vertical axis with relation to the tracks.

Means are provided for automatically releasingthe latch 103 when the article-carrier shall have arrived at.a position making it desirable'to cause descent of the article-support, the tripping of the latch being preferably accomplished during coactive relation of the lever with a supplementary track 86, so that, when the latch is released, but slight instant movement of the lever can take place. The release of the latch is exemplified as accomplished by means of a trip 120 pivoted in a bearing 121 secured to the supplemental track 86 and having a tripping ngse 122 and a tail-piece 123.

When the article-carrier arrives at proper position for tripping the lever, the tailpiece 123 is engaged for moving the tripping nose 122 into the path of the latch 103 caused, for instance, by engagement of the hub 124 of the lever with the tail-piece. (o'ee Figs. 5, 10, and 11). A stop 125 limits the retraction of the trip.

The articles to be plated are'hung upon or attached to the article-support at the receiving station A of the-apparatus. The articles are received over the pins '22, for

forming electric contact with said pins,

The articles are supplied to the article-supports at the operators receiving position, from a suitable portable truck. 126, which may be accomplished duringtravel of the artlcle-carrier, or, the article-support, havbe hooked over the insulating spool 5 7 at the receiving position during travel of the artiole-carrier. When in suchreceiving posi-' tion, the supplemental frame of the carrier is preferably in elevated relation, the lever 76 having been latched in actuated position.

by means of thelatch103. The lever.76 is I ve relation with suppla mental track 86, by means of which the artlcle-supporttis moved into raised relation, if for anyreasonthe SaId'SHPPOI'lZ shall have been in own position. 1 i

stantial coincidence of positioning of the.

article-support above the entrance end of the first of the tanks or baths, the trip 120' engages the latch 103 for releasing the latter and permitting movement of the roller 81 intoengagement with the bottom of the groove 115, which movement is preferably only a slight movement and just sufficient to cause movement of the keeper out of range of the latch, and its descent is cushioned by the spring to prevent jarrin (Compare Figs. 9 and 10). The roller 811s thus permitted to move along the retreating portion 88 of the supplemental track 86 for permittin descent of the article-support within a slight range of forward movement of the article-carrier. g

The first descent of the articlesupport is, in the present exemplification, into a cleansing tank 128. containing a cleansing bath 129 of a suitable potash or other caustic solution, for cleansing the surfaces of the articles being plated. The travel of the article-carrier continues for causing .travel of the article-support through the cleansing bath while the articles are immersed in the cleansing fluid. Adjacent to the end of the cleansing tank, the lever 76 coacts with a deflecting supplemental track 86 for causing a quick raising of the article-support during continued forward travel of the article-carrier, the immersion and removal of the article with relation to the tank occupying an extremely short portion of the travel of the carrier for obtaining the full benefit of length of the tank. The continuing portion 87 of the supplemental track maintains the article-support in elevated position while being'passed over the end wall of the cleansing tank, the roller 81 then following the retreating portion 88 of the supplemental track 86 for descent of '8lvmakes contact with the deflecting portion ofasupplemental-track 86 for raising the article-support out of the rinsing-tank during slight advance travel thereof, the

= article-support advancing while the roller 8.1 'continuesalong the continuing portion 87 of the supplemental track-86.,

I have found that in practice theoily sub t ncesrins'ed 'from'the articles in the rins-" ing bathare liable. to form a-scum-on the top of thebath, which attaches itself to the I i articles as they are elevated out of the rinse pipes 135.

ing bath, and that furthermore a film of oil" or paratlin may adhere to the articles. It is desirable that all these oily substances be removed from the articles before their immersion in the plating tank, For this purpose I provide spray devices at the respective sides of the path of the travel of the articles, so located as to project sprays of hot water upon the articles as they rise from the rinsing bath.

These sprays are ejected from spray-nozzles 133, shown in the form of pipeshaving small openings therein, the upper portions of the nozzles being bent laterally, as shown at 134, the nozzles being arranged to eject the forced spray upon the articles. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 18). The nozzles are adjustably positioned and are fed from feed- Each of the nozzles projects upwardly and is jointed on a vertical axis by a joint 136 with a. branch 137 of the feedpipe. The branch 137 is jointed by a joint 138 with a branch 139 of the feed-pipe, and the branch 139 is in turn ointed with a feedpipe by a joint 140. The nozzles are so arranged as to be adjusted for projecting the spray in the desired direction and for adjusting the nozzles toward and from each other to regulate the spray with relation to the path of the articles.

The articles rise out of the rinsing tank at a point sufficiently in advance of the rear end of the rinsing tank to permit dripping of excess water therefrom into the rinsing tank before they are in position above the preliminary plating tank. The water sprayed by the nozzles is preferably of a high temperature.

The articles having been rinsed and sprayed, the article-support continues its travel in elevated position into coactive relation with a preliminary plating tank 143, containing an electrolytic plating bath 144, the roller 81 riding upon the retreating portion of the supplemental track 86 for causing descent of the article-support into the preliminary plating bath during slight advance travel of the article-support.

The plating bath comprises anode-bars 146, which are electro-conductive bars having flexible electric conductors 147, electrically connected therewith, the flexible electric condutors leading from a suitable battery or generator. Anodes 148 are suspended in the electrolytic bath in the preliminary plating tank and electrically connected with the anode-bars by an electric conductive suspension-hook 149. Both of the anode-bars connected are positive pole bars of the plating bath and connect in multiple with one pole of the battery or generator. The anodebars are suitably secured to the frame of the preliminary plating tank as by means of clamp-brackets 150, suitably secured to the framingof the tank by bolts 151, the

bars being insulated from the tank by insulating bushings 152 through which the bolts are received and by insulating washers 153, 154, respectively between the head of the bolt and the bracket, and between the bracket and the tank. (See Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 19).

The articles to be plated form the cathodes of the plating bath arranged to receive the plating from the anodes by means of the electrolytic action in the lating bath.

The movement of the artic e-support into the plating tank brings the shank 25 thereof into coacting relation with conductors 155, 156, exemplified as cathode-bars extending lengthwise of the plating tank and supported from the sides of the tank by brackets 157, mounted on arms 158 secured to the sides of the tank by bolts 159. The brackets are insulated from and secured to the arms by means of bolts 161, which pass through insulating sleeves 162 in holes 163 in the brackets, the insulating sleeves having flanges 164 between the brackets and the head of bolts 161. The bolts are threaded into the arms 158, an insulating plate 166 being located between the bracket and the arm. (See Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 20.)

The electric conductors 155, 156, are exemplified as stiff bars forming cathode-bars which, at their entrance ends, are sloped laterally away from each other as shown at 167. The flexible electric conductors 168 connect. the cathode-bars, which form the negative poles of the plating tank, in multiple with the other pole of the battery or generator. There is an entrance space 171 between the ends of the cathode-bars and the entrance end wall of the tank, and an exit space 172 between the exit ends of the cathode-bars and the exit wall of the tank. The article-support descends into the tank through the entrance space and is elevated out of the tank through the exit space. Between these spaces the shank 25 makes contact with the cathode-bars for closing the electric circuit and causing plating action on the articles.

Means are provided for insuring proper electric contact between the cathorle suppm't and the cathode-bars. accomplished in the present instance by placing the cathode-bars at different elevations and in vertical planes extending lengthwise of the travel of the article-supports, which are spaced apart by vertical space 173. (See Figs. 13 and 15). The article-support is preferably so suspended that its gravity will cause lateral pressure upon both the bars. For accomplishing this, the suspension of the articlesupport is had in such manner that the upper bar 155 causes a slight movement laterally of the shank 25 toward the bar 156. the article-support being normallv suspended for traveling in a path with its center very slightly to the side of the center of the vertical space 173 at which the bar 155 is located. The bar 156 acts to urge the shank in the opposite direction.

The weight of the article-support when so contacted, employs the bar 155 as a fulcrum for urging the portion of the shank opposite the bar 156 into contact with the bar 156, the articulations in the hanging of the article-support permittin this slight movement, the gravity action of the articlesupport being such as to cause lateral pressure of the shank against both of the bars 155, 156 for insuring intimate electrical contact between said bars and said shank.

The preliminary plating bath in thepresent exemplification, is instanced as applying a reliminary nickel plating to the articles.

hen the article-support arrives at the end of the preliminary plating tank, it is elevated through the space 172 by having the roller 81 contact a supplemental track 86, the article-carrier continuing its travel While the roller 81 coacts with the continuing portion 87 of the supplemental track, the article-support descending with a short travel motion into a rinsing tank 176, having a rinsing bath 177 therein, wherein the articles are rinsed during travel of the same lengthwise of the tank. At the exit end of the rinsing-tank the article-support is again elevated, this elevating being instanced as an elevating to maximum extent caused by coaction of the roller 81 with a supplemental track 101 so as to cause coaction between the keeper 104 and the latch 103.

ontinued travel of, the article-carrier may now be had While the article-s11 pport is in raised relation, due to the latched connection of the lever 76.

The article-support thereupon travels through a dripping space 178 in which the fluid on the article drips therefrom, preparatory to immersion in subsequent plating baths.

The cleansing tank 128, rinsing tank 130, preliminary plating tank 143 and rinsing tank A176, may be of desirable lengths and are shown made in one structure having part1 10115 180, 181, 182 between the tanks and end walls 183 and 184.

When the article-carrier arrives at the end of the dripping space, the latch 103 is contacted by a trip 121 for releasing the latch and again causing coaction of the Y roller 81 with a continuing portion of a supplemental track 86. The article-support being permitted to have descent with slight length of travel into a plating tank 186, Whose construction is similar to the plating tank 143, and comprising a plating bath 187, having anode-bars and cathode-bars connected as described with relation to said preliminary bath, the cathode-bars being so placed relative to each other and the suspension-shank 25 as to cause lateral pressure by the shankvon the bars by gravity of the article-support in manner heretofore described with relation to said preliminary plating bath.

When the article-support arrives at the end of the plating tank 186, it is elevated during short advance travel thereof in manner hereinbefore described by a supplemental track 86 and permitted to descend into a plating tank 188, comprising a plating bath 189, constructed similarly to the plating baths hereinbefore described, in which the anode-bars and cathode-bars are electrically connected, the cathode-bars and the shank 25 being similarly related to the same parts hereinbefore described and operating in the same manner.

At the end of the plating tank 188, the article-support is again raised in manner hereinbefore described by a supplemental track 86 out of said platlng tank 188, and permitted to descend into a recovering tank 190 containing a recovering bath 191 for removing from the surface of the articles and the immersed portions of the articlesupport, any electrolytic fluid and plating metal in solution there may be on the same. This recovering bath is a fluid having properties suitable for the purpose intended, the metal deposited therein, in manner stated, being afterward recovered for subsequent use in suitable manner according to the metal with which the articles may have been electro-plated.

The plating baths 187, 189, in the present exemplification, are instanced as respectively a silver priming bath or strike for applying the priming coating of silver to the articles, and a finishing silver plating bath for applying a finishing silver plate to said article.

At the end of the recovering tank, the article-support is again elevated by a supplemental track 86 and passed over a division wall between the recovering tank and a rinsing tank 192, containing a rinsing bath 193. This rinsing bath contains a heated fluid, as water, heated as near as possible to the temperature of boiling water without creating 'a substantial amount of steam under atmospheric pressure.

During the passage of the article through the rinsing tank 192, the articles are rinsed and brought to a high degree of temperature to prepare the same for drying and evaporation of the moisture on the articles.

At the end of the rinsing tank, the article-support is elevated by a supplemental track 101 for causing latching of the lever 76 by the latch 103in order that the travel of the article-carrier may take place while the support is in uppermost and latched relation.

The plating tanks 186 and 188, the recovering tank 190, and the rinsing tank 192, may

be of desirable lengths and are shown made in one structure having partitions 194, 195 and 196 between the tanks, and end walls 197 and 198.

The plated articles are next submitted to the drying operations, preferably after passing through a dripping space 199. These drying operations are, in my invention, a plurality of drying operations of different kinds successively performed upon the articles, and comprising first, blasts of high velocities 0r intensities applied preferably hot directly upon the articles and projected in directions crosswise of the articles and counter to the path of travel of the articles, to blow from the articles any drops or tears or deposits of moisture there may be thereon or in crevices 0r openings in the same, in order that the moisture may be blown off of the articles as drops or spray for physically separating the moisture from the articles, and thereby reducing the amount of evaporation of"moisture from the articles necessary in order to dry the same; second, the passing of the articles through a heated chamber in which they are subjected to currents of heated air, preferably of less intensities than the intensity of the blasts, and projected through the chamber in directions counter to the direction of travel of the articles; and, third, the passing of the articles through a chamber in which there is a high degree of quiet-heat. this heat being sufficiently high to convert any moisture there may still be on the articles into vapor for separating all moisture from the articles, the vapor rising and passing through the top slot in the chamber.

The travel of the article-carriers then continues, preferably through the atmosphere, until they arrive at the delivery station B of the apparatus, where the articles or the article-supports containing the articles are removed and placed on suitable portable trucks, one of which is exemplified at 200.

The drying of the articles is preferably accomplished in a plurality of chambers exemplified as a blast chamber 201, a heatedcurrent chamber 202, and a quiet-heat chamber 203, the chambers 202, 203. having a partition 204 between them. (See Figs. 1, 2, 21 and 22.)

While passing through the chambers, the article-supports are preferably steadied laterally for preventing swaying thereof, as by means of guide-bars 205, 206, the entrance ends of which are relatively separated as shown at 207, 208, for ready reception of the stem 25 between said guidebars. (See Figs. 1, 21, 22 and 25.)

Blasts of air are directed upon the articles carried by the article-support, these blasts of air being instanced as created by a blower 211 communicating with a blow-pipe 212 and Gfigreceiving its supply of heated air through a heating chamber 213 wherein the air passes over suitable heating pipes for raising the temperature of the air to a substantially high degree. (See Fig. 1.)

Blast nozzles 216 are exemplified at the sides of the chamber 201 and are shown as elongated nozzles having elongated blast openings 217. (See Figs. '1, 2. 21, 22, 24 and 25). A plurality of these nozzles is shown at each side of the blast chamber, the openings of the nozzles extending in oblique directions to the vertical and formed to project the blasts crosswise of the articles, and in a direction counter to the direction of travel of the articles, the blasts being directed slantingly toward the entrance opening 218 of the blast chamber 201 and slantingly in upward direction. The nozzles 216 are fed through the branches 219 connecting with the blow-pipe 212.

Nozzles 221 extend slantingly upward and counter to the direction of travel of the articles for directing blasts slantingly upward against the articles and slantingly counter to the direction of movement of the articles. (See Figs. 1, 2, 21, 22, 24 and 25). The nozzles 221 are shown as extending through the bottom of the blast chamber 201 and as being fed by a branch 223 extending from the blow-pipe 212. The blast chamber is preferably just sufliciently large in cross-sec- ,tion to provide a passage for the articlesupport and articles supported thereby, in order that difiusion of the blasts will be avoided.

The heated-current chamber 202 comprises an outer surrounding sheet-metal body 224, a heat-insulating filling 225, and an inner lining 226, this inner lining having preferably a bright reflecting inner surface for reflecting the heat rays. (See Figs. 21. 23 and 24).

Heating pipes 230, 231, 232, are'arranged along the respective sides and the bottom of said heating chamber for imparting heat to the chamber and to the currents of air passing therethrough, these currents of air preferably being created by a blower 231 having a blow-pipe extending therefrom, the blow-pipe having branches 236 connecting with openings 237 in the end of the chamber 202 opposite the connection thereof with the blast chamber 201. (See Figs. 1, 21 and 22).

The blast chamber is connected with the entrance end of the heated-current chamber by an opening 238 just sufficiently large to admit the article-support.

The chamber 202 may also have an inspection opening 239 in its rear wall which. however. is normally closed by a hinged door 210.

The interior of the chamber 202 is provided with baffle-plates or deflectors 241 at the respective sides thereof, and extend preferably throughout the height of said sides,

these deflectors slanting toward the path of the article-supports and counter to the direction of travel of said article-supports for directing the currents of air across said articles and into contact with the heating ipes. The heating pipes pass through suitable openings in the deflectors. The deflectors are alternately placed at opposite sides of the heated-current chamber.

Adjacent to the entrance end of the chamber 202 there is an opening 242 in the side of the chamber which connects by a heated air pipe 243 with the exit end of the chamber through an opening 244 for reuse of the air heated in the chamber 202. The deflector 241 diagonally opposite the opening 242 di- -rects air-currents in the chamber across the articles into said opening. (See Figs. 21, 22 and 23).

The articles pass from the chamber 202 through an opening 245 into the quiet-heat chamber 203, wherein the articles are subjected to an intense heat created, for instance, by means of heating pipes 246 in said chamber, fed by steam pipes 248. (See Figs. 21 and 22). After treatment in said chamber the articles pass through an exit opening 247 in the chamber 208, after which they travel for a distance through the atmosphere and are delivered at the delivery station.

The travel of the article-carriers is, as hereinbefore stated, caused by the sprocket chain 41 which is received about sprocketwheels 250 on shafts 251 suitably journaled in brackets 252 extending from the main tracks, the shafts being suspended in suitable hangers 253 secured, for instance, to the ceiling of the room. Propulsion of the link chain is had through a suitable electric motor 255, suitably supported adjacent to the ceiling, which operates a suitable variable speed device 256, as by means of a belt 257. This speed device may comprise a usual set of two pairs of cone-pulleys 258, 259, oppositely disposed and having an endless belt 260 between them for transmitting power from one to the other of said conepulleys, the speed of transmission being adjusted by shifting the belt lengthwise of the conepulleys. The belt 257 passes about a pulley 261 on the shaft of one of the cone-pulleys,

' the shaft of the other cone-pulley having a pulley 262 thereon, over which a belt 263 passes.

The resultant speed is communicated by means of the belt 263, and belts 264, 265, passing over suitable pulleys on shafts suitably supported, as from the ceiling, for operating a worm 266, which meshes with a worm-wheel 267 fast on a shaft 268, to which one of the sprocket-wheels 251 is also fixedly secured.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: r

1. The method of electro-plating which consists in subjecting the article being plated to cleansing by means of a caustic solution, then rinsing the article, then plating the article, then recovering electrolyte adhering to the article, then rinsing the article, then applying hot blast to the article, and then applying heated current of less intensity to the article, all while the article is traveling.

2. The method of electro-plating which consists in subjecting the article being plated to cleansing by means of a caustic solution, then rinsing the article, then spraying the article while suspended free from immersion, then plating the article, then recovering electrolyte adhering to the article, then rinsing the article, then applying hot blast to the article, and then applying heated current of less intensity to the article, all while the article is traveling.

3. The method of electro-plating which consists in subjecting the article being plated to cleansing by means of a caustic solution,

then rinsing the article, then plating the article, then recovering electrolyte adhering to the article, then rinsing the article in the presence of heat, then causing the article to drip while traveling through. space, then applying hot blast to the article for physically separating drops and tears of moisture therefrom, and then applying heated current of less intensity to the article, all While the article is traveling.

4. The method of electro-plating which consists in cleansing the article by means of a caustic solution, then rinsing the article, then spraying the article by means of a heated spray while the article is suspended free from immersion, whereby to remove scum and oil, then preliminarily plating the article, then rinsing the article and subjecting the rinsed article to blast of heated air of high intensity directed slantingly crosswise of the article and counter to its direction of movement, then subjecting the article to current of heated air of less intensity, and then subjecting the article to quiet heat of high temperature, the article moving during said various operations thereon.

5. The method of electro-plating which consists in cleansing the article by means of a caustic solution, then rinsing the article and tempering the article while rinsing the same, then plating the article, then rinsing the article in the presence of heat, then subjecting the rinsed article to blast of heated air of high intensity directed slantingly crosswise of the article, then subjecting the article to current of heated air of less intensity, and then subjecting the article to quiet heat of high temperature, the article moving during aid various operatipns thereo 6. The method of electro-plating which consists in cleansing the article by means of a caustic solution, then rinsing the article and tempering the article while being rinsed, then spraying the article by means of a heated spray while the article is suspended free from immersion, whereby to remove scum and oil, then preliminarily plating the article, then rinsing the article in the presence of heat, then causing the article to drip while traveling through space, then plating the article a plurality of times, then rinsing the article a plurality of times in the presence of heat, then subjecting the rinsed heated article to blast of heated air of-high intensity directed slantingly cr0ss-,

wise of the article and counter to its direction of movement, thensubjecting the article to current of heated air of less 1ntensity, and then subjecting the article to ,spraying the rinsed article while suspendedfree from immersion, plating the article,

rinsing the article in the presence of heat,

allowing the article to drip while traveling through space, plating the article a plurality of times in succession, recovering electrolyte from the article in the presence of heat, rinsing the article while subjecting the same to heat, allowing the article to drip while traveling through space, then subj ecting the rinsed heated dripped article to hot forced blast for blowing drops and tears and deposits of moisture from the article, and then subjecting the plated article to a heated current for drying the'same.

8. The method of electro-plating, which consists in the following steps in a continuous operation, namely: cleansing the article by means of a caustic solution,'rinsing the article while tempering the same, spraying the rinsed article while suspended free from immersion, plating the article, rinsing the article in the presence of heat, allowing the article to drip while traveling through space, plating the article a plurality of times in succession, recovering electrolyte from the article in the presence of heat, rins-- ing the article while subjecting the same to heat, allowing the article to drip while traveling through space, then subjecting the rinsed heated dripped article to hot forced blast of high intensity for blowing drops and tears and deposits of moisture from the article, then subjecting the article to heated current of air of less intensity, and thensubjecting the article to a quiet heat of high temperature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL F. DAVORAN.

Witnesses:

MAURICE STERNBERG, THERESA M, SIEBER. 

